“It was a sprint finish with 200 metres to go, but I got him in the end by a few seconds, and Stuart Gibson from my club was third.

“It was the Scottish 10-Mile Championships and the West District Championships too, so I won a gold medal for that too, and we won team silver, so it was a great day!

“There are some great names on what is a really big trophy, guys like Alistair Hutton, Lachie Stewart, Tom McKean and so on, so I’m proud to get my name up there.”

The Scottish Athletic Road Race Grand Prix calendar kicked off in style on Sunday when a large field of 200 runners took to the open roads around Carluke to take part in the 52nd Tom Scott Memorial 10-mile road race.

Incorporating the Scottish, West District and Scottish Veteran Harriers Club 10-mile championship events attracted competitors young and old from all parts of the country.

With the 10-mile and 7k races starting at the same time, a frantic pace was set by competitors as they headed out from the John Cumming Stadium to race on the twisty roads around Carluke.

Robert Gilroy won £120 for winning the race, while Mengisteab took the Miller Trophy for finishing second in a time of 53.24, with third place going to Gibson in a time of 53.42.

The Turnbull Rose Bowl for first veteran runner was won by David Millar of Irvine RC in a time of 54.47 and the Jackie Gourlay Shield for first vet over the age of 50 was won by Colin Feechan of Cambuslang Harriers.

Lisa Findlay of Dumfries RC, in winning the ladies’ race in a time of 63.43, also won both Scottish and West District titles, beating Shettleston Harriers’ Jessica Oliver Bell into second place, with her club-mate Avril Mason in third.